By Kim ji-eun

Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin held an 80-minute telephone conversation with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, to discuss issues of mutual interest, including China-ROK relations, Korean Peninsula issues, and regional and international developments on Aug. 31.
 

The two sides reaffirmed their consensus to attach great importance to and continue to develop China-ROK relations, and as this year marks the first year of the new 30th anniversary of China-ROK relations, they decided to make active efforts in various fields to develop a healthier and more mature relationship in the future.

To this end, the two sides will actively promote high-level exchanges and communication at various levels. The two ministers will work closely to ensure that shuttle diplomatic visits between foreign ministers and other consultative bodies such as the Diplomatic and Security Dialogue, the Humanities Exchange Promotion Committee, and the 1.5 Track Dialogue will be held as soon as possible.

The two sides appreciated that the China-ROK Economic Joint Committee was held in Beijing on August 29 and held in-depth consultations on stable supply chain management and ways to deepen economic cooperation. 

In particular, Minister Park called for joint efforts to stabilize the supply chain between China and Korea, including rare earths and raw materials, and called for Wang's special attention to maintain a stable and favorable investment environment for Korean companies in China.

In addition, the two sides agreed that cultural and people-to-people exchanges are the basis for promoting mutual friendship, and Wang welcomed Korea's participation in the Hangzhou Asian Games (Sept. 23-Oct. 8), and the two sides agreed to actively promote bilateral people-to-people exchanges in light of China's recent decision to resume group tours to Korea. 

Minister Park requested China's cooperation in preserving and managing Korean independence movement historical sites in China and expanding exchanges of Korean cultural contents such as games, K-POP, and dramas. 

In response, Wang expressed hope that the two sides will continue to communicate closely to promote cultural contents exchanges, and noted that the Korean independence movement historical sites will be normalized as soon as internal repairs are completed.

Park noted that North Korea, in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, launched a long-range missile under the guise of a so-called satellite last week, followed by a short-range missile launch in what it said was a tactical nuclear strike drill aimed at the United States.

Park called on China to play a constructive role in helping North Korea stop its provocations and return to the path of denuclearization in accordance with its bold initiative. 

“In the process of human and material exchanges with North Korea, all UN member states should faithfully implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions and international norms,” Park said, adding that he hopes to work together to this end.

The two sides also exchanged views on a wide range of issues of mutual concern on regional and international issues. In particular, the two sides agreed to work closely together to resume the trilateral consultations at the earliest opportunity. 

In addition, the two sides agreed to closely communicate on Korean Peninsula and global issues in the Security Council in light of South Korea's non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council next year.